Adult hen has one cloudy eye

[mirluvsry28]

I have a 2 yr old hen with one cloudy eye. She presented one week and a half ago with eye shut and some swelling of they eye lid and warm to the touch but eye wasn't cloudy. I thought it was conjunctivitis. I isolated her and she didn't want to eat or drink and she wasn't pooping either. She just wanted to sit with her eyes closed. I gave her eggs and watermelon and coconut water for a couple days to get her to eat.I began treating her with neomycin poly b eye ointment immediately ( I had it on hand). She was back to normal eating pooping and activity (except no egg laying) withing 2 days but her eye has gotten worse. The swelling is better but her eye has white film on it I can't wipe off. I've also been using pink eye relief drops and vetericyn gel. None of my other hens have issues. Does anyone think this could be Marek's? I was reading about ocular Marek's but I'm unsure how obvious or mild the disease can present in adult hens. I have included a pic of the pink eye drops I used as well as my hens eye from this morning. I'm not sure what I should do at this point. I don't know if she has something contagious or not.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Welcome To BYC

I would lean toward injury instead of Marek's disease.
Looks like she may have lost the eye.
Let's see what @Eggcessive and @coach723 suggest.

 

[Eggcessive]

I agree with Wyorp Rock. The eye looks blinded. She may have just been injured. The antibiotic eye ointment for a bit longer may help prevent infection, but it probably won’t help her blindness. I have had a hen with only one eye get along fairly well in a familiar environment. She sometimes would get lost or could be picked on by some.

 

[coach723]

I also agree. Does not look anything like the eyes I have seen with Marek's, looks more like injury/infection.

 

[mirluvsry28]

Thanks for the replies! My local college AG department hadnt seen any Marek's in person so they didn't feel comfortable telling me wether it looked like Marek's or not so I made her an appointment to see the vet this morning as well. Unfortunately this isn't a poultry vet it's an exotic animal vet so I'm not sure how familiar he will be with poultry diseases. The closest poultry vet that will see a backyard hen is 1.5 hrs away. Thanks again!

 

[Eggcessive]

You can do a search online for pictures of ocular Mareks. The picture below is typical where the colored iris turns grey, and the pupil appears smaller and irregular-shaped.

 

[coach723]

This is from one if my birds with Marek's.

 

[coach723]

And this is another. It can vary some, but none have looked like your bird.

 

[mirluvsry28]

Yes definitely does not look like my bird's eye. Thanks for the pictures! I will continue with my current treatment and see how it goes. Thanks!

 

[OnTheRoadLessTraveled]

Hello— I have a hen with a very similar eye. I am thinking injury, but thought I’d see how your girl is doing and if you have any input on what do do. Thanks so much.